Weather strip retainer



, A. w. L. HARTBAUER 2,044,881

WEATHER STRIP RETAINER Filed Nov.` 27, 1931 Patented June 23, 1936 UNETED STATES arent 6 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to a weatherstrip retainer and particularly to a means for releasably securing weatherstripping to doors and especially refrigerator doors.

In general the conventional method of attaching weatherstripping is by means of nails. The Weatherstripping as a rule is made with tabs, or if moulded has depressions for nails which are placed several inches apart. In some instances washer plates which are perforated to receive the nails are used. Any of these types of fastening utilize too great an amount of the space available for weatherstripping, thereby reducing the width of the surface Contact of the weatherstripping.

The object of this invention is to utilize practically all of the space available for weatherstripping and to apply a retainer that will not restrict the bearing surface of the weatherstrip in service.

It is a further object of this invention to apply a retainer that will not distort the bearing surface or prevent free compression of the weatherstrip in service.

An additional object of this invention is to apply a retainer suitable for use with any form of resilient weatherstripping materials.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to the sam'e parts throughout the different vi-ews in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a wood refrigerator door and frame facing the inside of the door and showing the weatherstripping on the four sides of the door;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the door of Figure 1;

l Figure Sis a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line A--A of Figure l and showing the weatherstrip and retainer in operative position;

Figure 4 is an isometrical view, partly in section, taken at A-A of Figure 1 showing the weatherstrip as applied, and also showing a corner of the weatherstrip bent upwardly to show application thereof when points of the prongs of the retainer (shown in dotted lines) are embedded in the bearing face of the door after passing through the weatherstrip;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View of a modified application of the invention, the application being with metal inner and outer door panels;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a portion of the retainer of the invention;

Figures '7 and 8 are front elevational views of modified forms of retainers showing variations in contours of the prongs; and

Figure 9 is an isometrical view, partly in section, showing assembly of weatherstrip and retainer and showing one of the prongs riveted or bent over.

In Figure l stiles I and 2, top rail 3 and bottom rail il are joined together at the corners 5 in a suitable way to form the frame of the'door structure. To the Stiles I and 2 and rails 3 and ii is secured the outer sheet S and inner lining i, the space 8 between the outer sheet 6 and the inner lining 'I being utilized for any desired form of insulation.

As shown in Figure 3 the inner face 9 of the stile I is set back from the edge I0 of stile I to provide the bearing surface Il for the weatherstrip I2.` Door frame members I3 are recessed at the bearing surface It to provide bearing for the weatherstrip I2. The door frame members I3 are also recessed for attachment of lining I5. sheathing Iii is fastened to the exterior face of the frame I3. The space I 'i between lining I5 and sheathing I@ is utilized for any desired form of insulation. The construction just described extends along stiles I and 2, top rail 3 and bottom rail 4.

In applying the door to the door frame members hinges are used; opposite the hinges a suitable locking device is applied. in manipulating the door the weatherstrip I2, which may be of any suitable resilient material, is positioned between the bearing surfaces II and ifi of the Stiles I and 2 and rails 3 and d, also door frame Structure I3 and compressed by the action of the door in closing to insure proper contact with these bearing surfaces.

The weatherstripping IZ may be secured to either the door or the door frame members. It

has been shown in Figures 1 to e inclusive, secured to the door members; that is, stiles I and E and rails 3 and 4. p

'I'he stiles I and 2 and rails 3 and 4 are provided with the groove I8 into which the weatherstrip I2, which is in four sections, is positioned. The weatherstrip I2 is secured to. the stiles I and 2 and rails 3 and d with the retainer I 9 having prongs 2B which pierce the weatherstrip I2 in alignment with face of Stiles I and 2 and rails 3 and d. Prongs 2t are provided with points 22 which may be either driven into the surface II or enter a groove provided therein. This secures the prongs 20 and prevents their bending and releasing weatherstrip I2. The portion of the retainer I9 from which the prongs 20 extend, is secured to the face 9 of the stiles I and 2 and rails 3 and 4 with nails or screws 2|.

Weatherstrip I2 is restricted against longitudinal movement along the faces H of stiles I and 2 and rails 3 and 4 by the inserted prongs 20 of the retainer I9. It will be understood, however, that the compression and expansion of that portion of the weather strip I2 extending outwardly from said retainer I9 and its prongs 20 is not restricted transversely because of the upwardly and downwardly sliding contact or the lateral sliding contact, as the case may be, of the weatherstrip I2 on the prongs 20 of the retainer I9. That p0rtion of the weatherstrip I2 which projects from the retainer I9 to the edge I6 of the stiles I and 2 and rails 3 and 4, the outer edges of which have been numbered 23, is in yielding contact with surfaces II and I4. On account of this yielding contact, the flexible and resilient nature of the weatherstrip material, and the upwardly and downwardly sliding contact, or lateral sliding contact, as the case may be, of the weatherstrip I2 on the prongs 2l! of the retainer, the breaking of contact of the weatherstrip from the bearing surfaces II and I 4 of the door and the door frame, respectively, when the door is opened, is greatly facilitated.

Figure 5 shows a modified metallic or composite metallic and wood construction in which the weatherstrip I2 is secured in position in the groove I8 and in the bearing surface corresponding to the bearing surface II of Figures 3 and 4, by prongs 20 which are an integral part of the inner sheet 24 of the door, instead of extending from a separate retainer such as retainer I9. The inner sheet 24 is secured to the door furrings 26 by nails or screws 25.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportion of parts without departing from the scope of this invention which generally consists of devices capable of carrying out the objects set forth and defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A metallic weatherstrip retainer, said retaine1' having a body portion, one of the edges of the body portion being divided into alternate individual, separated, elongated spaces and individual, separate, elongated prongs.

2. The combination of a metallic weatherstrip retainer and a weatherstrip, said retainer having a body portion, said body portion having individual, separated, pointed elongated prongs along the edge thereof and individual, separated, elongated spaces between said prongs, said prongs extending through said weatherstrip, said weatherstrip being of flexible and resilient material and adapted to slide upon the prongs of said metallic retainer.

3. A weatherstrip retaining means comprising a supporting member, said supporting member being provided with two surfaces, one transverse to the other, a groove between said surfaces, a weatherstrip, a metallic retainer, said metallic retainer being provided with elongated prongs, with elongated spaces between said prongs, said metallic retainer being adapted to be held against both surfaces and with the prongs of the retainer piercing the weatherstrip, a portion of said weatherstrip lying in said groove and another portion thereof bearing against one of said surfaces, said weatherstrip being of flexible and resilient material and adapted to slide upon the prongs of said metallic retainer.

4. A weatherstrip retaining means comprising a supporting member, said supporting member being provided with two stuffaces, one transverse to the other, a groove between said surfaces, a

weatherstrip, a metallic retainer, said metallic retainer being provided with elongated prongs, elongated spaces between said prongs, said metallic retainer being adapted to be held against both surfaces and with the prongs of the retainer piercing the weatherstrip, a portion of said weatherstrip lying in said groove and another portion thereof adapted to bear against one of said surfaces, said weatherstrip being held by said metallic retainer against longitudinal movement but said last mentioned portion of said weatherstrip not being held against transverse or lateral extension from said retainer when compressed, said weatherstrip having sliding engagement on the prongs of said retainer.

5. A weatherstrip retaining means comprising a main body portion, said body portion being L- shaped and acting as a support, a weatherstrip, a metallic weatherstrip retainer, said metallic weatherstrip retainer having a body portion, sharpened elongated prongs extending from said body portion, elongated spaces between said prongs, the body portion of said retainer being secured against one surface of said L-shaped support and the ends of prongs after piercing the weatherstrip entering the other surface of said support to aid in supporting the weatherstrip, said prongs permitting said weatherstrip to slide thereon in two directions.

6. A weatherstrip retaining means comprising a supporting member, said supporting member being provided with two surfaces, one transverse to the other, a groove between said surfaces, a weatherstrip, a metallic retainer, said metallic retainer being provided with elongated prongs, elongated spaces between said prongs, said metallic retainer being adapted to be held against both surfaces and with the prongs of the retainer piercing the weatherstrip, a portion of said weatherstrip lying in said groove and another portion thereof adapted to bear against one of said surfaces, said weatherstrip being held by said metallic retainer against longitudinal movement but said last mentioned portion of said weatherstrip not being held against transverse or lateral extension from said retainer when compressed, said weatherstrip having sliding engagement on the prongs of said retainer but not to cover the upper spaces between said prongs above said weatherstrip.

AUGUST WILLIAM LOUIS HARTBAUER. 

